Deafness/Hearing Impairment/mixed hearing loss

QuestionMy son just turned 7 but he began experiencing hearing loss in his right ear about a year ago. He underwent an audiometry and results suggest profound mixed hearing loss on the right ear and normal hearing acuity on the left ear. We consulted an ENT and he told us that all he could prescribe our son is that he take vitamin b.Is there any other way on how it could be treated? Is there still achance for his right ear to get well since he's still young?Is the hearing loss permanent?

AnswerMaricar,

A profound mixed hearing loss usually suggests that some of the hearing loss is treatable and the rest is permanent. There is usually nothing to restore the permanent part of the hearing loss but often times there is treatment for the treatable part. The part that is treatable is often treated with antibiotics and/or some type of surgery. The most common type of surgery done on children is placing a tube in the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear. I'm not sure why your son has a mixed loss so I'm not sure if there are any surgery options.
If you have any concerns or questions, it is always reassuring to seek a second opinion. If you seek a second opinion, see an ear specialist such as another ENT or an Otologist.
Thank you for your question. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Kelley Linton, Au.D., centerforhearing.net

Experience

I've been a practicing audiologist for 20 years and have owned a private practice for 14 years. I am also an audiologist in the United States Army where I teach DOD hearing conservation regulations and manage 3000 DOD employees at an army industrial facility.

OrganizationsArkansas Academy of Audiology
American Academy of Audiology
Academy of Doctors of Audiology
American Speech and Hearing Association
National Hearing Conservation Association

Education/CredentialsAu.D. - Doctor of Audiology, University of Florida
American Academy of Audiology fellow member
Audiology Board Certification
American Speech and Hearing Association certification
Arkansas State Audiology license-current
CPT United States Army Medical Corps

Awards and HonorsAmerican Speech and Hearing Association "ACE" award x 7 years
United States Army Accommodation Award
Arkansas Academy of Audiology elected board of director x 3 years
Better community award, Fort Smith, AR for volunteer audiology service to free community health clinic